LIHU‘E — The Menehune and Warriors will turn off the lights, tonight at Hanapepe Stadium. In what will be the final night game of the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation season, Kapa‘a hits the road to take on Waimea. Each team is
LIHU‘E — The Menehune and Warriors will turn off the lights, tonight at Hanapepe Stadium.
In what will be the final night game of the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation season, Kapa‘a hits the road to take on Waimea.
Each team is eyeing its first win of the regular season, after Kapa‘a lost a tough battle against Kaua‘i in last week’s season opener, 13-7.
Waimea had the week off, giving it two weeks to prepare for the Warriors after a 20-0 victory over Hilo in its second preseason matchup.
Kapa‘a almost delivered Kaua‘i’s first defeat since 2008 last weekend, grabbing an early 7-0 lead and remaining even with the Raiders until a late Shea Shimabukuro touchdown put Kaua‘i ahead for good.
The Menehune possess a similar style to this year’s Raiders, electing to pound the ball early and get their running game going behind running back Alika Emayo.
In the Hilo victory, the junior tailback was given the ball on 11 running plays in the opening drive alone, capping it with a touchdown.
Quarterback Jae Delos Reyes has a similar style to Shimabukuro, with the ability to move the pocket and use his legs as a weapon, in addition to finding receivers.
Kapa‘a mixed up its offensive attack in the KIF opener, operating out of different formations and utilizing the violent running style of sophomore Waika Alapai to pound away at the Raider front seven.
Senior running back Darren Taylor was used more in the passing game against Kaua‘i. Taylor was the league’s third-leading rusher in 2009, but carried just three times for one yard against the Raiders.
Playing against a more skilled defensive unit took some aspects of the passing game away from the Warriors, who put up 54 and 38 points, respectively, in their two preseason wins over Kalani and Lethbridge Collegiate Institute.
Waimea went 1-2 against Kapa‘a in 2009, having won the teams’ previous matchup with an exciting 23-20 victory in the season’s final game.
The Menehune have shown reason to believe they will get off to a much stronger start this season and be right there in the hunt with what appears to be a very competitive KIF.
Junior varsity will get the evening started at 5 p.m., with the varsity to follow at 7:30 p.m.
